Sen. John McCain is urging Pima Community College to straighten out its recent mishandling of veterans' records that led to some former military personnel receiving letters demanding repayment of benefits.

In March, the Tucson college was suspended from enrolling new students with veterans' education benefits for 60 days after two audits by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs found poor record-keeping. The suspension, which did not affect veterans currently enrolled, was lifted in May after Pima combed through more than 3,700 records.

The audits, conducted in December and March, found that the college failed to accurately and promptly report to the VA its records on enrollment, tuition, fees and changes that affected the amount of payments to beneficiaries, as well as not ensuring the beneficiaries were enrolled in approved programs of study. The college also granted credits without proper verification.

Similar problems had been uncovered in previous audits, and Pima had drawn up a plan to fix the problems but never implemented it, according to C.J. Karamargin, vice chancellor for public information and federal-government relations for Pima.

The poor record-keeping led the college to award GI Bill tuition benefits to some former military personnel without verification, and some students are now being asked by the VA to repay the money.

Karamargin said the college doesn't know exactly how many veteran students received the debt letters or what the total amount of the incorrectly awarded benefits might be.

"Pima's commitment is that we will assist the students who received a letter if it was issued as a result of errors by the college," he said. "If it's our mistake, we will own it.

"The nature of the assistance depends on the unique circumstances of each student. It could be help filing an appeal, completing the necessary paperwork or assuming the financial burden, if the error was ours."

The college is holding two information sessions, on Saturday and Monday, for veterans to sort out the problem.

McCain sent a letter to Pima's chancellor, Lee Lambert, that said the college's commitment to pay back any money received in error "is a positive first of many steps to correct past mistakes and ensure that Arizona's veterans receive the educational benefits they have earned."

McCain said his staff will attend the information sessions. Karamargin said benefits experts from the offices of Arizona U.S. Reps. Ann Kirkpatrick and Ron Barber also will be there to help.

The veterans issue came to light while Pima was on academic probation this past year by the Higher Learning Commission, an agency that accredits community colleges.

Lambert started as chancellor last July, overseeing six sites with about 24,000 students.

McCain's letter to Lambert said: "I understand that you have unfortunately inherited this student veteran issue. But immediate action to remedy this widespread problem is essential."

The sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Pima's East Campus, 8181 E. Irvington Road, Tucson, and 5:30 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Downtown Campus, 1255 N. Stone Ave., Tucson.